Portable knot tying device for smooth filaments



March 4, 1958 R. MGK. sr-:MPLE 2,825,592

PORTABLE KNoT TYING DEVICE FOR SMOOTH EILAMENTS Filed Jan. 6, .21954 l PLQ. U. 46 n 48 James M CKelzie Sel-np e BY v @cf/nm, wm F 1Q. 12. ATTORNEYS United States Patent PORTABLE KNOT TYING DEVICE FOR ySMOOTH FIIANIENTS James' McKenzie Semple, Alexandria, Va. Application January 6, 1954, SerialNo. 402,507 9 Claims. (Cl. 289-17) This invention relates to an improved structure and method for facilitating the tying of the barrel knot and allied knots utilized for splicing and joining the free extremities of lines Aor of lines and leaders.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a structure and method which will simplify and facilitate the tying of the barrel knot and which will obviate the possibility of `tying an improper or an unbalanced knot.

'The blood knot is a difficult knot to tie. In the past the proper tying of the knot has normally required the services of two persons.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to .evolve a structure which may be held in one hand while the tyer inserts the ends of two lines into the `structure and utilizes it as a support and guide for the lines while tying the aforesaid knot.

nIt is a further object of this invention to evolve such a structure which is small and light and readily formed of easily available material to facilitate tying of the knot.

It is a further object of this invention to evolve such .a structure which may readily be used to tie a perfect blood knot by persons inexperienced in the art.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent `as this specification proceeds.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view, partially in phantom, of one embodiment of a knot tying structure made in conformity with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of this embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of this embodiment vof the invention, showing two lines in position in the structure and the method `of tying the blood knot utilizing the structure;

Fig. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention in which it is incorporated with a leader spool;

Fig. 5 is a side view of this alternative embodiment, partially in phantom; .'Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of this embodiment of the invention showing two lines in position in the structure and the method of tying of the blood knot, using the structure;

Figure 7 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a side View, of this embodiment of the invention;

Fig. y9 is a perspective view, partially in phantom, of this embodiment of the invention with two lines supported therein in position for the tying of vthe blood knot;

Fig. l0 is a schematic view from above of one method of .tying a splice using the structures of Figs. 4-9, inclusive;

Fig. 1l `is a similar view of an alternative method of making the splice using the structures of Figs. 4 9, in- Qlusive; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the blood-knot evolved through the use of the structures shown in Figs. 1 through 9.

In Figs. 1-3 inclusive, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated `in which a fiat, disc like backing member or base 11, formed of plastic or analogous material, is combined with an outer plate or face piece 12 of the same material, :outer plate .12 being appropriately aflixed to base plate 11 as by cementing or Iby `rivets or bolts -outer plate `12 is vertically slotted at 15 `for approximately 13 yand 14. The upper extremity of of a hand while the :knot Yis being tied.

Referring to Figs. 4-6 inclusive, another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in which `a plastic spool of the type used for spooling monofilament leader `material is provided with upwardlyfextending, slitted iingers between which the ends of the lines are inserted and held during the knot .tying operation. As will be seen from Fig. 5, spool V20 is composed of two symmetrical and complementary halves .22, and 23 which .are outwardly `enlarged about their'peripheries and which `are appropriately joined together at their centersto provide a housing for a length `of rrionoiilament which isspooled within peripheral chamber 24. Discs 22 and 23 of spool 20 may be considered vone las =a base member and the other as a face piece as are the corresponding members in Figures 1-3. The discs Z2 and 23 are preferably provided with paired, upwardly Vextending fingers 25-26 -and 27-28 which are separated by vertical slits -29 and 30. Centrally, they are .separated by a downwardly extending space 31. Fingers 25-26 and 27--28 are preferably provided with central concavities opposed to each other which provide outer, central convex surfaces on each of said lingers. Between said center convexities and the peripheral edges of the fingers are located shallow peripheralr grooves 32-33 and 34-35 which serve to stiffen the structure and act as `guides for the extremities `of the lines being joined, as will be hereinafter discused in more detail. As shown, fingers 25--26 and 27-.28 are upwardly tapered yto rounded upper extremities.

When the two discs 22 and 23 are joined at their centers, as by cementing or by a small boltor rivet, iingers 25-26 and 27-28 are aligned and bear closely against each other, narrow slits 29 and 30 being maintained between their plane outer edges. It is 1in Vthese slits 29 and 30, between the fingers, that the extremities `of `the lines are held during the `knot tying operation, as Vwill be discussed in more detail.

Another embodiment of the invention is disclosed vin Figs. 7-9 inclusive. In this embodiment lof the invention the structure is preferably formed of reasonably hard, yet resilient rubber or analogous material. Base .member 36 may be substantially rectangular in cross sec tion and may be provided centrally with an orifice 37 of sufficient size to be inserted over the linger of a hand. At its upper extremity base 36 is provided with an enlarged, downwardly extending slot 38 which divides vits upper extremity into a pair of analogous, upwardly curved lingers v39 and 40. 'Fingers 39 and 40 are Vpreferably downwardly vslitted in a vertical plane to provide lateral slits 41 therein. The 'rearward sections 4Z and 43 of fingers 39 and 40, separated therefrom by slits 41, preferably extend upwardly to a greater height than their forward portions and are preferably beveled downwardly at their forward edges with respect thereto. As shown, vertical slits 41 preferably extend downwardly in fingers 39 and 40 to a depth substantially equal to the depth of central slot 38. In this embodiment of the invention the terminal ends of two lines or leaders to be joined are held in slits 41 while the splice is formed as shown in Figs. and 11.

The method of tying the knot using the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-3, inclusive, is as follows: As shown in Fig. 3, in this embodiment of the invention the free extremity 45 of line or leader 46 is first pulled downwardly between finger 16 and base 11 and passed outwardly through the lower extremity of center slot 15. Conversely, the free extremity 47 of leader 48 is pulled downwardly between finger 17 and base plate 11 and is passed outwardly through the lower extremity of slot 15, crossing line 46. With the two sections of leaders thus held between fingers 16 and 17 and the upper extremity of base plate 11, in crossed relationship, free end 45 of leader 46 is then passed around leader 48, for three turns, as shown in Fig. 3, and the free end 47 of leader 48 is passed three times around leader 46. The free ends 45 and 47 are then passed under the bodies of leaders 46 and 48 at the loops formed in front of the fingers, the faces of the fingers serving as a guide for the tips of the leaders. The free ends 45 and 47 are then drawn until the loops are gathered and the turns drawn close together against the edges of lingers 16 and 17. The outer extremities of leaders 46 and 48 are then pulled in an outward and upward direction pulling the partly knotted leaders off fingers 16 and 17 and with additional tension completing the knot as shown in Fig. 12. The surplus of free ends 45 and 47 is then removed.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4-6 the methods of tying the knot shown in Figs. 10 and 11 may be practiced. The two free ends 45 and 47 of leaders 46 and 48 may be pulled downwardly through slits 29 and 30, between the opposed lingers 25-27 and 26-28 of the spool discs and are crossed and pulled outwardly through space 31 until they have suicient length for the tying of the knot. Free end 47 of leader 48 is then laid three times about leader 46 and is passed upwardly between leader 46 and its own body, as shown in Fig. 6. Free end 45 of leader 46 is conversely passed three times about leader 48 and thence upwardly between leader 48 and its body. The free ends 45 and 47 are then drawn until the loops are gathered and the turns drawn close together against the edges of fingers 25 and 26. Leaders 46 and 48 are then grasped and pulled outwardly and upwardly, pulling the partially knotted leaders off fingers 25 and 26. Additional tension on leaders 46 and 48 completes the knot.

yPeripheral grooves 32-33 of fingers 25-26 are utilized as guides for the extremities 45 and 47 of leaders 46 and 48 in passing them upwardly between the bodies of the leaders to complete the laying of the knot.

As an alternative method of tying the knot using this structure, the method shown in Fig. 1l may be practiced. In this method leader extremity 45 is passed between fingers 25 and 27 and to the rear of finger 23 and is laid three times about leader 48 and then brought back through the two leaders adjacent finger 28. Leader extremity 47 is passed between fingers 26 and 2S and outwardly in front of finger 25, thence is laid three times about leader 46 and brought back through the leaders adjacent linger 2S. The ends 45 and 47 are then drawn, the loops are gathered and the turns drawn close against the edges of fingers 25 and 28. The extremities of leaders 46 and 48 are then pulled and the partially completed knot is slid of fingers 25 and 28 and completed.

In using the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 7-9 the methods of tying the knot shown in Figs. 10 and 11 may be practiced. In this embodiment the respective leaders 46 and 48 may be brought through slits 41 of shoulders 39 and 40 from the sides and outwardly through the forward extremity of slot 38, the extremities 45 and 47 being laid respectively about leaders 48 and 46 for three turns and then passed upwardly therebetween to initiate the knot. With the extremities 45 and 47 passed upwardly between the bodies of the leaders extremities 45 and 47 are pulled upwardly until the loops are gathered and the turns drawn close together against the edges of fingers 39 and 40. Leaders 46 and 48 are then pulled outwardly and upwardly, sliding the partially formed knot off fingers 39 and 40, whereupon additional pressure is applied and the knot is completed.

As shown in Fig. 11, the ends may be passed through the structure in parallel, then wrapped about the respective leaders and the knot completed, as above.

Many other types of barrel knots or splices may be tied utilizing the invention. The type of the knot may be varied as the operator wishes, provided the foregoing basic methods are followed. In the drawings, for the sake of simplicity, the knot tying is shown in the conventional schematic manner, whereas in practice the strands twist closely about each other and the coils gather.

In the past in tying the barrel knot it has been customary to hold both the free ends of the leaders tightly, after the hitches have been made about the respective leaders, prior to pulling the leaders to complete the knot. When practicing the novel methods herein disclosed with the structures shown it is merely necessary to apply tension to the leaders after the hitches have been made and gathered against the edges of the fingers, to complete the knot.

If desired, the outer plate structure 12, of Figs. 1-3, carrying slot 15 and curved fingers 16 and 17 may be applied fiat to the surface of a fly box or other plane surface, in place of lower plate 11, to provide upon the box an assistant for tying the barrel knot. The same applies to the embodiment shown in Figs. 4-6 inclusive, it being feasible to apply a disc carrying fingers 25 and 26 to any plane surface for utilization as discussed for the tying of the knot.

The invention is susceptible of other embodiments without departing from the spirit thereof.

Attention is directed to ythe appended claims for a limitation of the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a structure for facilitating .the tying of barrel knots, a base, a face piece parallel to and affixed to said base and bearing thereagainst, separated fingers at the upper extremity of said face piece bearing closely against said base whereby .the free end of each of two separate lines may be clamped between a different one of said fingers and said face piece and extended outwardly therebetween for laying about the bodies of said lines outwardly of said structure.

2. In a structure for facilitating the tying of barrel knots, a base, a face piece parallel to and aiiixed to said base and bearing thereagainst, vertical fingers integral with and extending from the upper extremity of said face piece and bearing closely against said base whereby the free end of each of two separate lines may be clamped between a different one of said fingers and said face piece and extended outwardly therebetween for laying about the bodies of said lines outwardly of said structure.

3. In a structure for facilitating the tying of splices, a base, a face piece parallel to and afiixed to said base and bearing thereagainst, separated, upwardly tapered fingers at the upper extremity of said face piece bearing closely against said base whereby the free ends of two separate lines may be clamped under said fingers and extended outwardly therebetween for laying about the bodies of said lines outwardly of said structure.

4. In a structure for facilitating the tying of splices, a base, a 'face piece affixed to said base and bearing thereagainst, separated, vertically disposed lingers at the upper extremity of said face piece parallel to and bearing closely against said base whereby the free ends of two separate lines may be clamped between said fingers and said face piece extended outwardly therebetween for laying about the bodies of said lines outwardly of said structure.

5. In a structure for facilitating the tying of barrel knots, a base, a face piece aixed to said base and bearing thereagainst, tapered fingers at the upper extremity of said face piece parallel to and bearing closely against said base whereby the free ends of two separate lines may be clamped between said lingers and said face piece extended outwardly therebetween for laying about the bodies of said lines outwardly of said structure.

6. In a structure for facilitating the tying of knots, a base, a face piece ailixed to said base and bearing thereagainst, upwardly curved lingers at the upper extremity of said face piece parallel to and bearing closely against said base whereby the free ends of two separate lines may be clamped under said fingers and extended outwardly therebetween for laying about the bodies of said lines outwardly of said structure.

7. In a holder for facilitating the tying of knots, a base, a at face piece closely affixed to said base, a slot centrally disposed in said face piece and extending downwardly therein an appreciable distance to dene fingers at the upper extremities of said face piece lying closely against said base whereby the free extremities of two lines may be inserted under said fingers and brought out of said slot for laying about the lines.

8. In a holder for facilitating the tying of knots, a at base, a at face piece closely axed to said base, a slot centrally disposed in said face piece and extending downwardly therein an appreciable distance to define ngers at the upper, outer extremities of said face piece lying parallel to and closely against said base whereby the free extremities of two lines may be inserted under said iingers and brought out of said slot for laying about the lines.

9. The combination in accordance with claim l, wherein said face piece and said base member comprise a spool for holding a supply of mono-filament leader.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,452,906 Butler et al Apr. 24, 1923 2,469,037 Harvey May 3, 1949 2,498,920 Holland Feb. 28, 1950 2,500,004 Nielsen Mar. '7, 1950 2,502,751 Roberts Apr. 4, 1950 

